Slack-adjuster for air-brakes.



W. R. HEIRONIMUS. SLACK ADJUSTER FOB AIR BRAKES.

APPLIOATIOI FILED HA3. 1;, 1908.

Patented N 0?. 10, 1908.

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WILLIAM R. HEIRONIMUS, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

SLACK-ADJUSTER FOR AIR-BRAICES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908,.

Application filed March 12, 1908. Serial No. 420,757.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. Hnrnonn MUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evansville, county of Vanderburg, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slack-Adjusters for Air-Brakes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to slack adjusters for air brakes.

The present invention relates to that class of slack adjusters employing a ratchet wheel actuated screw adjustment rod and has for its object the provision of a novel structure of this general type; novel means for adjusting or regulating the action of the ratchet Wheel, so that if the slack is not taken up fast enough, an easy adjustment may be had so that it will be more rapidly taken up; and to provide an improved duplex structure particularl adapted for use on electric cars where irect air pressure is used to work the brakes, whereby if one air brake rigging breaks or becomes damaged, it can be immediately cut out and the brakes still operated with the remaining rigging.

The most erfect embodiment of the invention whic I have at this time devised is set forth fully hereinafter and the novel features recited in the appended claims, while in the accompanyingl drawings :Figure 1 is a bottom plan view, argel in section, of the invention; Fig. 2, a detai of the pawl and ratchet lever device; Fi 3, a detail of the pawl-carrying lever; an Fig. 4, a detail section showing the manner of connecting the extension rods to the head.

To a central castin of head 1 there are secured by bolts 2 the Treads 3 and 4 of duplicate air cylinders 5 and 6 which have suitable brackets 7 for securement of the device to the bottom of the car. Projecting from the head 1 are lugs 8.

Connecting with the heads 3 and 4 are branch pipes 9 and 10 rovided with cut-off valves 1 and connecte to the main air ipe 12. I either air brake rigging becomes amaged, the proper valve 11 wi be closed and the brakes operated on the remaining cylinder, thus permitting the car to be continued in use until opportunity for repairs can be had, but ordinarily both valves 11 will be open to emit bot cylinders to be used.

In eac cylinder is a piston having a rod 13 provided with the usual head to which the usual levers 14 for operating the brakes are pivoted.

The extension rods consist of socketed sections 1 5 pivoted to the levers 14 and rod-sections 16 which have screw-threaded parts 17 and telescope within the socketed sections 15, the sections 16 of both brake riggings being secured between the lugs 8 by'a single bolt 18. Bevel gears 19, having internal screwthreads in engagement with the screwthreads 17, are disposed in openings in the section 15. Short shafts 20, journaled in the brackets 21 and in the sections 15, carry bevel gears 22 meshing with the bevel gears 19, and they also carry ratchet wheels 23. Loosely mounted on the shafts are ratchet levers 24 carrying suitable ratchets to engage the ratchet wheels, said levers havin elongated slots 25 receiving pins 26 carrier by take-up rods 27, which in turn, are connected by pins 28 to sleeves 29 having set screws 30 to secure them to the levers 14 which the embrace. The loose connection between t 1e take-up rods 27 and the ratchet levers 24, and between said rods 27 and the sleeves 29, ermits adjustment of the sleeves 29 and their securement at different desired points on the levers 14, so that if the slack is not taken up ra idly enough, this adjustment may be ha to cause a more rapid takin%up of the slack.

r inarily the valves 11 are both open and both cylinders are used to operate the brake, and the air pressure is thus equalized, but should one of the brake riggings become damaged or defective for any reason, it can be cut out by turning the valve 11 controlling its cylinder and the other cylinder and its mechanism still used to operate the brakes until repairs can be had. The pressure of the air forces out the piston 13, thereby causing the lever 14 to be rocked on the socketed extension rod 15 as a fulcrum to apply the brakes. As the brake shoes wear, greater movement of the lever 14 is necessary to properly apply them and, consequently, the rod 27 and the ratchet lever 24 cause rotation of the ratchet wheel and the bevel gears and, by the turning of the bevel gear 19, the socketed extension 15 is advanced or extended relatively to the extension rod 16, and thus the fulcrum of the lever 14 is advanced and the slack is thus taken u this operation taking place automaticalFy whenever the requirements of use demand it.

If it is found th does not sleeve 29 re-clamp at the take-up mechanism and piston rod, of an adjustable fulcrum rod,

perate fast enough in practice, the a brake operating lever pivoted thereto and is shifted nearer to the rod 13 and connected to the piston, and means adapted ed on lever 14, and the greater lev-- to be connected to the lever at different erage obtained causes greater play of the rod points of the length thereof which is adapted 4 27 and, consequently, a greater amount of for adjusting the fulcrum rod.

rotation of the bevel gear 19 and more ex- 4. In a slack adjuster for air brakes, the tended feed of the socketed extension 15. combination with a cylinder and a piston The connection of the rod 16 of both mechand piston rod, of an adjustable fulcrum rod,

0 anisms to the same bolt and part of the head a brake operating lever pivoted thereto and 50 1 causes the pressure to be balanced and connected to the piston, and means for adequalized and thus relieves the mechanism justing the fulcrum rod comprising rotary of much strain which would otherwise exist. pawl and ratchet mechanism, and a rod con- Having thus described my invention, what necting said pawl and ratchet mechanism to I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters the lever. 55 Patent, is 5. In a slack adjuster for air brakes, the 1. In a slack adjuster for air brakes, the combination with a cylinder and a piston combination with a cylinder and a piston and and piston rod, of an adjustable fulcrum rod, piston rod, of a brakeoperating lever, an ada brake o crating lever pivoted thereto and 20 justable fulcrum rod composed of asection to I connecte to the piston, and means for ad- 0 Whichthebrake operatingleverispivoted, and justing said. fulcrum rod comprising awl a screw-threaded section, a gear cooperating and ratchet mechanism, an adjustable s eeve with the screw-threaded section to extend or carried by the lever, and a rod connecting lengthen the said fuQcrum rod, and means for the sleeve to the pawl and ratchet mechrotating the gear from the brake operating anism. 5 lever. 6. In a slack adjuster for air brakes, the 2. In a slack adjuster for air brakes, the j combination with a cylinder and a piston combination with a cylinder and a piston and and piston rod, of an adjustable fulcrum rod,

piston rod, of a brake operating lever, an ad- I a brake (perating lever pivoted thereto and justable fulcrum rod composed of a section to which the brake and a screw crating with threaded section, a gear coopthe screw-threaded section to of which is adapted for adjusting the fulcrum connecte to the piston, and a rod adjustably connected to the lever so that it may be operatively secured at different points thereoperating lever is pivoted,

extend or lengthen the said fulcrum rod, a rod.

operating lever.

3. In a slack ad 40 combination with 35 rotary pawl and ratchet mechanism for turn- In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my ing the ear, and means for operating said signature in presence of two witnesses.

pawl an ratchet mechanism from the brake WILLIAM R. HEIRONIMUS.

itnesses: juster for air brakes, the F. C. GORE, a cylinder and a piston P; C. HOPKINS. 

